29th May Alligator Day

It's National Alligator Day! Not a day we need to celebrate in Australia because we do not have any alligators. We only have crocodiles! 

What's the difference between alligators and crocodiles?

1. Where they live. Alligators can live in colder places. Crocodiles are usually found in saltwater habitats while alligators prefer freshwater areas. 

2. Their size. Crocodiles are bigger. They can be 6 metres long. Alligators are shorter at 4 metres.

3. The shape of their mouth. Crocodiles have a very long V-shaped snout and alligators have a wide U-shaped snout.

4. Alligators can close their mouths without their upper teeth showing. Crocodiles teeth show when their mouths are closed.

5.  Colour. If it is grey or black it is probably an alligator. If it is olive or tan it's a crocodile.Crocodiles have a more powerful bite. Actually the strongest bite of any animal!

6. Crocodiles are more aggressive and have a more powerful bite. Actually the strongest bite of any animal!

American alligators are the biggest alligators and they inhabit the southern shores of the USA and the northern areas of South America.

Often children's non-fiction books combine alligators and crocodiles and outline these differences. A popular book Alligators and Crocodiles  by Gail Gibbons is about to be rereleased in a new updated version.

Alligators and Crocodiles by Tracy Read and Alligators and Crocodiles  by Laura Marsh combine the two as well.

Alligators and Crocodiles Can't Chew  by Thea Feldman is a good non-fiction read too! 

There is a surprisingly large collection of fiction picture books that feature alligators and crocodiles. Listed here are some alligator picture books that the library has:

• There's An Alligator Under My Bed  by Mercer Mayer

• Hooray for Amanda  and her Alligator!  by Mo Willems

• Snip Snap What's That?  by Mara Bergman and Nick Maland

• A Girl and her Gator by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy

• Snappsy the Alligator by Julie Falatko and Tim Miller

• Gator, Gator, Gator! by Daniel Berstrom and Frann Preston-Gannon

• Gator by Randy Cecil

• See You Later, Alligator by Sally Hopgood and Emma Lever

• If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!  by Elise Parsley

• Zack's Alligator  by Shirley Mozelle and James Watts

• The Alligator's Smile and Other Poems  by Jane Yolen and Jason Stemple

• Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis

• Clive Eats Alligators by Alison Lester

When Australian children learn that there is no alligators in Australia, one of them always brings up the fact that Alison Lester, a well-loved Australian author illustrator that they all know has a book 'about alligators'!

• The Lady With the Alligator Purse  by Nadine Bernard Westcott

This book isn't strictly speaking about alligators but if you need a book that works a treat with young children this is one. I have the children role-play the parts and practise talking on the phone.

28th October Last Friday in October World Lemur Day

What animal loves to bask in the sun, has sweat glands in their wrists, and is found only in Madagascar? The lemur. It is a small primate. They resemble a monkey, with a long tail and thick fur. They always live in trees and are very active mostly at night.There are several types of lemurs and day by day lemur species are moving towards extinction. However, a series of restoration processes has also been taken to protect the types of lemurs from the dangers that they face.

Lemurs are another animal that the children in Australia will not see unless they are on holiday overseas or at a zoo, but like raccoons, meerkats and sloths they fascinate them. They are quite popular as characters in picture books. 

The objective of this day is to raise awareness about the need to preserve this endangered species, and to celebrate its unique attributes. The holiday was first observed in 2014, when it was founded by Jonah Ratsimmbazafy in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Lemurs are often the sidekick to the main character and do not have the starring role. This is the case in Steve Antony's popular Mr Panda series where the lemur is in every book and the students comment on him, but he is there among a host of other black and white animals. Here are some lemur books where the lemur is the focus to help you celebrate:

Information books

• My Life in the Wild Lemur  by Stuart Jackson-Carter & Meredith Costain

• Ring-Tailed Lemurs by Victoria Blakemore

• Go Wild! Lemurs  by National Geographic Kids Stories

• Follow Me!  by Ellie Sandall

• What Makes a Lemur Listen? by Samuel Langley-Swain

• How to Lose a Lemur  by Frann Preston-Gannon

• The Lemur's Tail by Ophelia Redpath

• Lemur the Dreamer  by Courtney Dicmas

• Milo's Pet Egg  by Rebecca Elliott

• This Book Belongs to Aye-Aye by Richard Byrne (an aye-aye is a kind of lemur)

• Flying Lemurs  by Zehra Hicks

And these three about Lenny the Lemur

• Poo! Is That You?  by Clare Helen Welsh & Nicola O'Byrne 

• Wee! It Wasn't Me!  by Clare Helen Welsh & Nicola O'Byrne

• Slime! It's Not Mine! by Clare Helen Welsh & Nicola Byrne

And these feature a lemur, but have a purpose other than to entertain

• Lemur Feels Let Down A Book About Disappointment  by Sue Graves & Trevor Dunton

• Lemur's Guide to Healthy Eating  by Lisa Edwards & Sian Roberts

13th July International Rock Day

I don't need to write at length about celebrating rocks. I have done so before, here and here, but since then some new picture books have appeared that are worth purchasing for the library.

My favourite, This Little Pebble by Anna Claybourne, is perfect for the keen rock collector in our Prep school who wants to find out more about where their rocks came from.

Bring Me a Rock  by Daniel Miyares makes you smile as you watch a group of insects attempt to cart off a pebble.

Mine!  by Jeff Mack cleverly tells a story with just one word.

A Stone for Sascha  by Aaron Becker, like his previous gems is a wordless book but with a profound message and somewhat sombre feel.

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex,  reveals the epic tale behind everyone's favourite playground game!

Dave's Rock by Frank Preston-Gannon, another funny story about Caveman Dave that features rocks.

 A Rock Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas gives a myriad of things that a rock can be.

And a new one I would like to see and read, A Chip off the Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer.

20th October International Sloth Day

October 20th, 2015 is International Sloth Day, so says this website. Other sites say that it is the third Saturday in October which means that it was last Saturday, 17th October. Whenever it is doesn't matter because there is so much fun to be had with young children and reading about sloths. There are so many picture books to explore, film clips to watch and toy sloths to hug. See the amazing sloths made by Andrea Vida among other more commercial ones. The books below are in our library. If these are not enough see pinterest page here.